VOA标准英语2008年-Republicans Await First National Speech by McCa

Sarah Palin, the first-ever woman to be named to a Republican presidential ticket, is a staunch social conservative with a colorful persona. But last week's initial media excitement over her surprise choice as Senator McCain's running mate has given way to questions about her experience in national and international affairs. A growing wave of controversy 2 has also surrounded the governor, from word of her unwed teenage daughter's pregnancy 3 to her initial backing of a much-derided federal project in Alaska.

Amid the numerous press reports scrutinizing 4 her, Republicans are going on the offensive. At a news conference at the convention site, prominent Republican women said Sarah Palin is being unfairly demonized by what they called biased 5 news media. Former U.S. Treasurer 6 Rosario Marin criticized political commentators 7, who she says have questioned the wisdom of Palin accepting the vice 8 presidential nomination 9 when she has an infant with Downs Syndrome 10 to care for.

"I am offended and insulted that the media has made much to do about that, [saying] 'how dare she run for vice president when she has a child with a disability'," said Rosario Marin.

Earlier, in a conference call with reporters, McCain campaign chairman Rick Davis complained of unfair news media treatment of Governor Palin and the Republican ticket as a whole.

"Certainly, her [Palin's] record deserves scrutiny 11," said Rick Davis. "But I think we ought to look at her record. The salacious nature with which these [news] outlets 12 have tried to throw dirt at our candidate have been, I think, inappropriate."

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has also received harsh media scrutiny over past comments seen as belittling 13 poor rural Americans, as well as for his relationship with a controversial pastor 14 who, in his sermons, uttered remarks many considered to be anti-American.

Palin's address to the Republican National Convention is expected to draw a large national audience. The evening's speakers will also include three of Senator McCain's former challengers during the Republican primary season: former Massachusetts governor Mitt 15 Romney, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, and former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani. The themes for the night's speeches are "reform and prosperity."
　






Senator Barack Obama campaigning in Ohio, 03 Sep 2008

As with Tuesday's convention speeches, Wednesday's addresses are expected to be highly partisan 16, drawing sharp contrasts with Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. At a campaign event in Ohio, Obama responded to Tuesday's Republican convention speeches that questioned his judgment 17 on national security and foreign affairs.

"You did not hear a single word about the economy," said Barack Obama. "Not once did people [Republicans] mention the hardships people are going through. Not once did they mention how to keep jobs in Ohio. Not once did they mention what is to be done about all the retirees losing their pensions. Not once did they mention how to make sure people [can] stay in their homes."

Hundreds of protesters have been arrested outside the convention center over the last two days. Demonstrations 18 are expected to continue for the remainder of the convention, which culminates 19 Thursday with Senator McCain's acceptance speech.